Small business owners would be forgiven for getting confused over how to use Facebook to market their business. With Facebook pages, profiles, groups, not to mention pixels, boosting posts and Ads manager, there is a lot of technical talk floating about.

When I meet a small business owner, often they ask me to explain the difference between a profile and a page.

What is a Facebook profile?

When you, as an individual, join Facebook, you create a personal profile. No one in business can see this profile UNLESS you allow them to.

You use this profile to connect with your friends and family. This is where you can share your own personal photos, talk about stuff you are interested in, events you want to attend etc. Only the people you connect with can see what you are posting here if you have the right settings on your profile.

How do you protect your privacy? Go to your personal profile settings, and change them there

On the menu at the top right-hand side of your screen on a laptop – click on the drop-down menu – select Settings

Under Settings, click on Privacy

Change your privacy to whatever you prefer.

** when you comment on someone else’s business page, or join a Facebook group,this is the profile you will be using. You can comment on someone else’s page as your Facebook page, but you cannot currently join a Facebook group as your business page. You must join using your individual profile.

Top Tip

You can add your business page under Work and Education settings on your personal profile so that if someone is interested in finding out more about your business or services, they can be directed to your Facebook page without having to make a friend request.

How to add your business page to your personal profile

click on your own profile

click on the About tab

select Work and Education

add your business page

set your privacy settings for this information to Public

Save

What is a Facebook Page?

A Facebook page is created to represent a business, entrepreneur or organisation. Having a business page allows you to create content for your customers/clients/audience. You can promote special offers and use paid advertising to increase your audience awareness of your business page. You can create as many Facebook pages as you want.

What is the difference between your business page and your profile?

The difference between having a business page and a personal profile are:

you can be followed or have page’likes’ from people who are not your personal friends on your page

Facebook do not allow businesses to use personal profiles to connect with an audience

You can create a Facebook group from a business page and link the two

you can use Facebook advertising to promote your page

it is against Facebook terms and conditions to use a personal profile for business use

Not all of your followers will see what you post on your Facebook page – this is the ‘reach’ of your page – currently dropping well below 10% of your audience.

Do I still need a business page?

Facebook recently announced a change to their approach with pages – they are focusing on connections and community in 2018, thus dropping the organic reach of a page even further.

You can still connect with your audience on your Facebook page, but you will need to be more strategic about how you use it. Using more video will certainly help. Having a call to action on each and every post is even more important. You want your followers to engage with your posts and this will increase the reach of each post.

Your focus for online marketing should be on creating your own original content – whether on a blog, a vlog, YouTube channel, Facebook group – and your Facebook page will be part of your marketing system, but this new change demonstrates more than ever that you cannot rely on a Facebook page for your social media.

For help on creating a system for your online marketing, check out my free training on why you need to start blogging today and how to turn that into a consistent system.

Want to figure out how to use Facebook?

Are you lost when it comes to using Facebook? not really sure what you're supposed to post or when? This printable ebook can help you kick it off!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get your download

I would have no hesitation in recommending Louise Brogan. She is my ‘go to’ person for all my IT and Social Media needs. A total pleasure to work with and extremely knowledgeable in her field.

”

Claire McCollum, freelance broadcaster & event host

“

Louise is a guru in the world of social media. I have used her services for my clients and have no hesitation in recommending her to others. Louise has a great way of understanding the business needs and is great across a wide range of sectors.

”

Nuala Foley, Director Nuala Foley & Associates Ltd :Consultancy

Want to figure out how to use Facebook?

Are you lost when it comes to using Facebook? not really sure what you're supposed to post or when? This printable ebook can help you kick it off!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get your download